Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid, a Madrid-based publication has not been too kind in their assessment of a Spurs man.
Spurs travel to the Metropolitano Stadium, the stage of their Champions League final 2019 heartbreak, for the first time since the 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
However, it is fair to say that the club have half a mind on their current predicament in the Premier League, with the Lilywhites still far from assured of their place in the competition next term.
Diego Simeone has refused to accept that Atletico are the favourites even though they sit third in La Liga, while the North Londoners are just a point off the relegation zone.
Tottenham midfielder Conor Gallagher criticised ahead of the Atletico Madrid reunion
Gallagher is set to travel to his former home, less than two months after his move from Atletico to Tottenham.
The midfielder played 77 matches for the Spanish club across his 18-month tenure, scoring seven goals and contributing seven assists, and Marca (as relayed by Sport Witness) have a closer look at the positives and negatives to emerge from his spell in Madrid.
They point out that Los Rojiblancos fans gave Gallagher the nickname ‘El Pitbull’, and the article is titled: ‘The Pitbull who never bit in red and white’.
The outlet says that the 25-year-old ‘showed more weaknesses than strengths’ during his time at the La Liga club.
They say that while he had a superb engine and displayed great commitment, he had ‘a technical level that made it difficult for him to adapt to the system.’
They say that he failed to impress regularly and simply lacked ‘the quality to control the midfield’ across his spell at the club.
Gallagher hailed for his attitude despite lack of quality
While Marca may not have positive things to say about the England international on a technical level, they do show praise for his character.
The report says that he adjusted well to life at the club and ‘gave his all’ every single time he wore the red and white shirt.
They describe his character as ‘exemplary’ but still express surprise that Tottenham paid €40m (£34.6m) for Gallagher, and it is a deal which Atletico’s sporting director is praised for.